HARRISONBURG, Va. - The Virginia Cavaliers (35-17) won their third consecutive game after posting a 10-2 victory over the James Madison Dukes (20-32) in a non-conference game at Long Field at Mauck Stadium on the campus of JMU. UVa scored a pair of runs in the second, third and fifth innings and registered four more in the eighth and never looked back. The Cavaliers received a combined seven RBI by the duo of Kyle Werman and Sean Doolittle and the pitching staff, highlighted by starter Robert Poutier, never let the Dukes into the game. The contest was Virginia's final regular season road game and the Cavaliers' final non-conference ballgame this season.

"Robert Poutier was in command of the ballgame today," said UVa head baseball coach Brian O'Connor. "He gave us a really outstanding start and it was two consecutive starts by first-years (Poutier and Pat McAnaney) for us in our last two game that have pitched very well. Fortunately we came out and really swung the bats today. Kyle Werman got a big bases clearing double in the eight inning when we scored four runs, and it was good to see us put it all together today on the road. We haven't been that good of a club on the road this year and it was good to see us come out and get a convincing win on the road."

Virginia got on the scoreboard first and took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. UVa's Scott Headd led off the side with a single up the middle before Tom Hagan laid down a bunt-single that rolled and stopped directly on the infield line to put runners on first and second base with no outs. One batter later, Mike Campagna's sacrifice bunt advanced Headd to third and Hagan to second before Kyle Werman plated Headd from third to make it a 1-0 ballgame with a sacrifice bunt of his own. In the Cavaliers' next at-bat, Matt Street hit a ground ball to JMU shortstop Rob Altieri that resulted in an error, allowing Hagan to score a run on the play to make the score 2-0.

Virginia extended its lead to 4-0 in the top of the third inning by adding another pair of runs. After Mike Mitchell was hit by a pitch to reach base to lead off the side, he then stole second before Sean Doolittle ripped a two-run home run to right-center field two batters later, giving the Cavaliers a four-run advantage. Doolittle's home run was his team-leading tenth of the season.

In the top of the fifth inning, Virginia stretched its lead to 6-0 by scoring two more runs. The side began with Street reaching first after being hit by a pitch before Mitchell and Ryan Zimmerman walked in consecutive plate appearances to load the bases with no outs. The Cavaliers' Doolittle then made it a 5-0 game when his fielder's choice groundout plated Street from third before Brandon Guyer made it 6-0 when his RBI-single to left field drove in Mitchell on the play.

James Madison scored its first run of the ballgame and cut Virginia's lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Matt Sluder singled, took second base on a wild pitch and then scored on a UVa fielding error.

But in the top of the eighth inning, UVa stormed back and made it a 10-1 ballgame by scoring four more runs to ice the game. After Guyer reached second base on an error, Headd drove him in to score a run one batter later with an RBI-single to right-center field to give UVa a 7-1 lead. Three batters later with the bases loaded and no outs, Kyle Werman connected on a three-run RBI-double down the left field line to drive in Headd, Hagan and Patrick Wingfield to give Virginia a 10-1 cushion.

The Dukes cut into the Cavaliers' lead in the bottom of the eighth inning and made it a 10-2 contest when Dan Santobianco walked to reach base, advanced to third on a UVa fielding error, and then scored a run on a wild pitch. But that would be as close as JMU would get as Virginia recorded the eight-run victory.

UVa starting pitcher Robert Poutier (5-1) picked up the win after going 6.0 innings and allowed just one run (unearned) on six hits and struck out a game-high five batters. The Cavaliers' trio of Scott Morgenthaler, Alex Smith and Josh Myers (three strikeouts) each pitched an inning of relief to close out the game.

JMU starting pitcher Clay McKim (1-3) took the loss after lasting just 2.1 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and struck out one batter.

Virginia will return home action on May 19-21 when the Cavaliers host the Duke Blue Devils in a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium. Virginia's series against Duke will close out the Cavaliers' 2005 regular season campaign. The Cavaliers and Blue Devils are scheduled to play on Thursday, May 19th at 7:00 PM; Saturday, May 20th at 7:00 PM and Sunday, May 21st at 1:00 PM.